Dracaena plant named ‘Cintho Lemon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dracaena  plant named ‘Cintho Lemon’, characterized by its upright plant habit with foliage initially erect to outwardly arching with development; moderately vigorous growth habit; long lanceolate leaves with broad yellow green-colored centers and narrow dark green-colored boarders and longitudinal stripes; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Dracaena steudneri.

Cultivar denomination: ‘CINTHO LEMON’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Dracaena plant, botanically known as Dracaena steudneri and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Cintho Lemon’.

The new Dracaena plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of the Dracaena steudneri ‘Jelle’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,677. The new Dracaena plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor from within a population of plants of ‘Jelle’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in La Guacima, Costa Rica in July, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dracaena plant by cuttings in La Guacima, Costa Rica since September, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Dracaena plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dracaena have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Cintho Lemon’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Cintho Lemon’ as a new and distinct Dracaena plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit with foliage initially erect to outwardly         arching with development.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Long lanceolate leaves with broad yellow green-colored         centers and narrow dark green-colored boarders and longitudinal         stripes.     -   4. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Dracaena differ from plants of the parent, ‘Jelle’, primarily in leaf color as plants of ‘Jelle’ have leaves with narrow yellow green-colored centers and broad dark green-colored boarders.

Plants of the new Dracaena can be compared to plants of the Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands, plants of the new Dracaena differed primarily from plants of ‘Massangeana’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dracaena had more upright leaves than         plants of ‘Massangeana’.     -   2. Plants of the new Dracaena had narrower leaves than plants of         ‘Massangeana’.     -   3. Plants of the new Dracaena were more cold tolerant than         plants of ‘Massangeana’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dracaena plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dracaena plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘Cintho Lemon’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of the upper and lower leaf surfaces of a typical plant of ‘Cintho Lemon’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 19-cm containers, with three plants per container, in a glass-covered greenhouse in Naaldwijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dracaena plant production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 21° C. and light levels ranged from 10 to 20 klux. Plants were six months old when the photographs and the botanical description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dracaena steudneri ‘Cintho Lemon’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Dracaena     steudneri ‘Jelle’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,677. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 25° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fleshy; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright plant habit with foliage             initially erect to somewhat outwardly arching; inverted             triangle; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 41.1 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 44.7 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 8 mm.         -   Stem color.—Between 144A and 145D.         -   Stem strength.—Strong.         -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Orientation.—Initially erect to somewhat outwardly arching.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.         -   Length.—About 28.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Margin.—Entire; sinuate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;             leathery.         -   Luster, upper surface.—Moderately glossy.         -   Luster, lower surface.—Dull.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Center, close to             N144B to N144C; longitudinal stripes and along the margins             (about 6 mm in width), darker than between 137A and 147A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Center, close to 145C to             145D; longitudinal stripes and along the margins (about 6 mm             in width), between 138A and 191A. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Center, close to slightly darker than 144A;             longitudinal stripes and along the margins (about 7 mm in             width), between 139A and N189A; venation, similar to lamina             surface colors. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface:             Center, close to 144A to 144B; longitudinal stripes and             along the margins (about 7 mm in width), close to N137B;             mid-vein, close to 150D, secondary venation, similar to             lamina surface colors.         -   Leaf sheath.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 1 cm.             Texture, upper and lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: Between 150D and 157C. Color, lower surface:             Between 138A and 191A. -   Flower description: Flower initiation and development has not been     observed on plants of the new Dracaena. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dracaena have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dracaena     plants. -   Postproduction longevity: Excellent postproduction longevity, plants     of the new Dracaena are durable and maintain good leaf substance     indefinitely. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dracaena have been observed     to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dracaena plant named ‘Cintho Lemon’ as illustrated and described. 